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Becoming a physical therapist (PT) is a rewarding healthcare career where you often have a profound impact on patients’ lives. Physical therapists help individuals recover from injuries or surgery, manage chronic conditions and improve their mobility, enhancing their quality of life. The profession combines science and compassion, allowing personalized treatment plans and meaningful patient relationships. You can work with kids, adults and seniors, treating a variety of conditions in different branches of medicine.
With high job demand and a diverse range of possible work settings, this career also offers job stability and advancement opportunities throughout your career. Overall, working as a physical therapist provides the chance to make a tangible difference while enjoying professional and personal growth. Let’s dive into Vivian Health’s top 10 benefits of a PT career.
10 Perks of Becoming a Physical Therapist
1. Rewarding Career Path
Physical therapists contribute to and witness patient mobility improvements and pain reduction as they work with people over consecutive sessions, making it a rewarding career. The job brings a literal human touch to healthcare, as PTs physically work with patients using massage techniques, anatomy manipulations, stretches and guiding them through targeted physical exercises. These techniques work together to help reduce patients’ pain, improve their flexibility and recover from injuries, surgeries or chronic health conditions.
Physical therapy work is often done one-on-one over several sessions, allowing a PT to develop a close relationship with patients, get their direct feedback and modify their treatment plans to meet their needs and pain responses. Many patients go on to experience an improved quality of life directly as a result of their work with a PT.
2. Growing Demand
With the aging of the U.S. population and more Americans choosing active lifestyles, the demand for physical therapy is on an upward trajectory. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as of 2022, there were roughly 247,000 PT positions in the U.S. and that demand will grow by 15% between 2022 and 2032. That’s five times faster than the average growth rate of all U.S. occupations, which is just 3%. These statistics are why physical therapy is No. 5 on our list of Fastest Growing Health Careers in 2024— with physical therapy assistants at No. 3.
3. Diverse Specializations
Different patient populations and medical conditions lead to varying physical therapy needs. As a result, PTs have numerous opportunities for specialization within their field. Professional certifications from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) abound and include:
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist
- Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist
- Geriatric Clinical Specialist
- Neurological Clinical Specialist
- Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
- Oncologic Clinical Specialist
- Pediatric Clinical Specialist
- Sports Clinical Specialist
- Women’s Health Clinical Specialist
- Wound Management Clinical Specialist
4. Competitive Salaries
PTs must earn a doctorate to begin their career, so they typically start out making a good wage. The average physical therapist salary was $53.09 per hour ($2,124 per week) on June 18, 2024, based on active staff jobs posted on Vivian Health. PTs wanting to increase their already competitive salary should consider their work setting. Many PTs enjoy outpatient clinics for work-life balance, but you may earn more in home health or hospital settings.
Gaining specialized training and certification in neurology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics or cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy usually boosts your salary. No matter the setting or specialty, time on the job makes a substantial difference. The APTA states that PTs earn about $800 more annually for each year they’ve worked.
PTs can also earn more if they choose to travel, earning an average of $2,085 per week in travel therapy roles on the same date. However, discerning travel PTs will find that many travel contracts in high-demand regions and facilities pay above $3,000 weekly, especially for certain specializations. PTs looking to earn more can also potentially invest in their own business, such as operating an outpatient rehabilitation center and supervising other PTs, physical therapist assistants and various technicians.
5. Flexible Work Schedules
PTs often work in outpatient offices alongside occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language therapists (SLPs) as part of holistic physical rehabilitation care. They also work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, mental health clinics or home healthcare.
The variety of settings and the high job demand mean that most PTs can pick the kind of setting and schedule that suits their desired work-life balance and other responsibilities. If they choose, PTs can work independently without supervision, so they can moonlight at various facilities, work freelance, take on night or weekend shifts or work a standard Monday through Friday 9-to-5 role.
6. Entrepreneurial Opportunities
PTs can own their practices and supervise numerous physical therapy assistants to support a wide array of patients. They can also work as consultants to healthcare providers, sports teams and worksites to improve physical health and reduce bodily injury. PTs have the medical knowledge to develop products and tools for therapy, exercise equipment, ergonomic tools or rehabilitation aids.
In addition to their one-on-one work with patients, PTs can offer group education and support such as educational workshops on physical health. Experienced PTs can also find opportunities to train other types of caregivers in physical therapy techniques and best practices or work in PT education for aspiring physical therapists.
7. Continual Learning Environment
For ongoing licensure renewal, most states require physical therapists to engage in some form of continuing education between their renewal dates. This continuous learning helps PTs stay up to date with the latest best practices, learn emerging techniques within their field or gain familiarity with newer technologies that help with patient rehabilitation and mobility.
8. Community Involvement
PTs play a crucial role in community health by participating in local events and public health and wellness initiatives. PTs often engage in community outreach programs to educate the public about the importance of physical activity, injury prevention and healthy lifestyles. Local school districts may also employ PTs to help students with physical disabilities integrate into the public school system and thrive there rather than attending special needs schools.
At a higher level, some PTs participate in the development of health policies and advocate for the inclusion of physical therapy in community health initiatives. They can also train communities in emergency preparedness and provide rehabilitation services after natural disasters and emergencies to help affected individuals regain their functional abilities.
9. Technological Integration
Lately, physical therapists are taking part in some of the cutting-edge advancements in technology to provide patient therapy and adherence. Some examples include:
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): VR and AR systems create immersive environments for patients to perform therapeutic exercises, improving engagement and outcomes. Augmented reality can overlay digital information in the real world, assisting patients with guided exercises and movement corrections.
- Robotics: Robotic exoskeletons assist with gait training and movement for patients with mobility impairments, such as those recovering from stroke or spinal cord injuries.
- Telemedicine: Using videoconferencing tools to conduct physical therapy sessions remotely increases accessibility for patients like those in rural or underserved areas.
- 3D Printing: 3D printing technology allows for the creation of customized orthotics and prosthetics tailored to patients’ specific needs and anatomies.
- Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a growing practice for reducing pain and inflammation and stimulating healing in soft tissues. PTs train to use low-intensity lasers positioned over joints and connective tissue as part of holistic care.
- Gamification and Mobile Tech: Apps and games designed to make physical therapy exercises more engaging and fun can motivate patients, especially in pediatrics, to adhere to their therapy programs. Mobile applications also allow patients to track their progress, receive reminders and communicate with their therapists.
10. Advancement Opportunities
With the vast array of physical therapy certifications and specializations available, the opportunity for advancement continues well after a PT earns their doctorate and initial license. Physical therapists can also advance by starting their own business, such as creating an outpatient therapy and rehabilitation center, either solo or in collaboration with other kinds of rehabilitation practitioners like OTs and SLPs. Some PT entrepreneurs also develop new types of medical devices, which can lead to lucrative sales if widely adopted.
Related: Physical Therapist vs. Occupational Therapist
How to Become a Physical Therapist
Becoming a physical therapist has one relatively typical and straightforward career path. First, you must complete a bachelor’s degree program, taking prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, physics and anatomy. Then, you must pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, which is required to work as a physical therapist. The doctorate generally takes 2 to 3 years to earn. After completing the DPT program and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), you may begin working as a licensed physical therapist.
Taking 6 to 7 years of consecutive education before working poses a significant financial challenge for some aspiring PTs. Therefore, some physical therapists enter the field via a multi-step approach.
For example, you can first become a physical therapist assistant by earning an associate’s degree in physical therapy. This pathway typically requires a two-year program and passing a licensure exam. You can then work for several years as a PT assistant before returning to school to complete a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in 3 to 5 additional years.
Once you complete your education, Vivian can help you find a variety of jobs in physical therapy or other allied health professions. The platform is available online or download our easy-to-use app for iOS and Android devices.
